X-ray device



Nov. l0, 1953 .1.J. c. HARDENBERG 659910 X-RAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1952 I I A um? |l /6 /0 ogen? Patented Nov. 10, 1953 X-'RAY DEVICE Jan Jesayas Christiaan Hardenberg, Eindhoven, Netherlands, assignor to Hartford National Bank and Trust ICom as trustee pany, Hartford, Conn.,

Application February 27, 1952, Serial No. 273,658

Claims priority, application Netherlands March 3, 1951 (Cl. Z50-58) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in or relating to X-ray devices.

Devices for medical examination of patients by means of X-rays may comprise a couch for the patient, to which the X-ray apparatus is secured. The X-ray tube is usually arranged under the table and the collecting screen over it. This has the advantage that, when laying down the patient on the table and when taking him oi the table the ray collecting screen forms a troublesome obstacle.

For the examination it is necessary that the source of rays and the screen should be displaceable in the direction of length of the table and transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof, parallel to the table plate. A third movement, i. e. a displacement at right angles to the table plate, need be provided only for the screen. For the latter displacement the screen must be balanced.

The displacement cf thev X-ray apparatus along the table is primarily restricted to the area where the examination is to take place. It has been. suggested to overcome for the greater part, the mass forces occurring with this displacement 4by the use of an electric motor. For searching a denite area use is made of the transverse motion of the tube and the screen. It is a source of trouble that with this motion the weights for balancing the screen must be displaced at the same time, since thus additional mass forces must be overcome. Y

The invention has for its object to obviate the two aforesaid disadvantages in a device for med,- ical examination of patients with the use of X-rays, in which the X-ray apparatus is secured to the couch for the patient. The source of X- rays is arranged under the couch and the balanced ray collecting screen is arranged over the table. According to the invention, the source of rays and the collecting screen are arranged to be moved together and, as far as the screen is concerned, separately, transversely to the longitudinal axis of the table, parallel to the l surface of the latter, without the use of means to supply the reaction forces for balancing these parts. It is, in this case, advantageous, if the screen is adapted to be displaced to such an extent that, irrespective of the area of the source of rays, it is outside the cone of rays. The separate motion of the screen relative Vto the source of rays may be obtained by providing a detachable coupling between a holder for the source of rays and the collecting screen.

For making room on the table surface it is )shown to secure the ray collecting screen tc en 2 arm which is adapted to pivot, so that the screen can be turned upwards and aside. This has a limitation in that, when moving the screen upwards, the balancing is disturbed and, when moving the screen aside, the distribution of `weight is varied and the construction must be reinforced.

ln order that the invention maybe more clearly understood and readily carried into effect, it will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing in which only one figure is shown. t

The figure shows a couch I, supported by four legs 2 on the hoor. Alternately, the table plate may be supported by a case and be rotatable about av shaft journalled in this base, so that the table may be arranged in a vertical position. On one side a rail 3 is provided along the table plate. This rail supports a carrier 4 having two rollers 5 and E. The carrier 4 moves by two rollers i and 8 in the profile slot of a U-shaped beam 9 which is provided along the opposite side of the table. The carrier comprises a rectangular frame, for example, `U-shaped iron, of which the prole slot is turned inside. One side of the carrier is constituted byl av metal box I 0. A displaceablecarrier II for the X-ray tube I2 is locatedwithin the frame 4. This part is formed by a rectangular frameLwhic-h is pro-v vided:v on twov parallel sides with rollers f3, theseV rollers being supported in the proleY slots of two sides of the carrier 4. Curved strips I4, constituting the holder for the X-ray tube I2, are secured to the carrier II. The X-ray outlet window of the tube I2 is turned upwards and the tube sheath is provided with limit the beam of X-rays.

The tube carrier II has secured to it a guide Y.

rod I6, which extends through an aperture in the walls of the box l0. The tube carrier can be displaced by means of this rod.

The box I0 contains the weights which hold the ray collecting screen I'I in equilibrium. The screen is supported by two columns I8, which extend inside the box I0 and which are adapted to be moved upwards and downwards. Each of the columns is provided at the top with a flat table I9, which is provided externally with two rollers 20, which move in the profile slots of the frame 2| of metal rods, to which the screen l I'I is secured.

A coupling 22 is provided between this frame 2I and the guide rod I6 for the tuhercarrier II. When the frame 2| is displaced transversely to the table, the Xeray tube I 2 is also displaced, but the displacement .is restricted to the space a ray cone I5, toV

available within the width of the table. In the extreme left-hand position, when the distance between the tube carrier Il and the box le, containing the weights, is minimized, the screen ii is still entirely located over the table plate so that it still forms an obstacle when laying down a patient or when taking him ofi the table. A readily detachable joint 23 is provided between the coupling rod 22 and the frame 2i for the screen I1. After the detachment of the joint the frame 2l can be displaced to the left to such an extent that the table plate is set free throughout its width. The joint 23 between the coupling rod 22 and the frame 2i for the screen il constituted by a pivoting strap and clamping the coupling rod 22 when secured to the frame 2i, may be constructed in many ways to be such that The frame 2i for the screen il is provided with two handles 2d to facilitate the displacement of the X-ray apparatus and the movement of the screen Il required for the examination.

In the figure part of the table plate is cut away to show the carrier 4 and the carrier il of the X-ray tube l2.

Whatclaimis:

l. A device for X-ray examination, comprising a table plate, means for securing X-ray apparatus to said table plate, said means comprising a first carrier mounted for movement in the direction of length of the table plate, arrst frame secured to said carrier and extending transversely beneath said table plate, a second carrier mounted in said first frame and displaceable along the length of this frame so as to be displaceable transversely to said table plate, an X-ray Vtube with a ray cone directed at a right angle to the plane of said table plate, said X-ray tube being supported by said second carrier, adjustable support columns extending from said rst carrier in a direction normal to the plane of said table plate, a second frame parallel to said table and supported by said columns, said frame being ldisplaceable along rollers on said columns in a direction at right angles to said columns and-extending in a direction transverse to said table plate, coupling means connecting said second carrierk and said second frame to eiect a common movement of a single movement of the hand suices to detach d said member in a direction transverse to said table plate, means for mounting a ray collecting screen in said second frame to be in line with said X-ray tube when said second carrier and said second frame are coupled together, and weights in said iirst carrier for holding said screen in equilibrium.

2. A device for X-ray examination, comprising a table plate, means for securing X-ray apparatus to said table plate, said means comprising a rst carrier mounted for movement in the direction of length of the table plate, a first frame secured to said carrier and extending transversely beneath said table plate, a second carrier mounted in said iirst frame and displaceable along the length of this frame so as to be displaceable transversely to said table plate, an X-ray tube with a ray cone directed at a right angle to the plane or said table plate, said X-ray tube being supported by said second carrier, a6.- justable support columns extending from said rst carrier in a direction normal to the plane of said table plate, a second frame parallel to said table and supported by said columns, said frame being displaceable along rollers on said columns in a direction at right angles to said columns and extending in a direction transverse to said table plate, disconnectable coupling means connecting said second carrier and said second frame to effect a common movement of said members in a direction transverse to said table plate, means for mounting a ray collecting screen in said second frame to be in line with said '2-ray tube when said second carrier and said second frame are coupled together, said second frame being displaceable away from said table when said coupling is disconnectable, and weights in said first carrier for holding said screen in equilibrium.

JAN JESAYAS lCHRSTIAAN HARDENBERG.

References cited in the sie of this patent UNrTsn sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 1,953,497 Nelson Apr. 3, 1934 2,315,786 Grobe Apr. 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 473,824 Great Britain Oct. 20, 193'? 

